Belue: Three early games that will shape the season

Know this sounds a bit crazy, but the Georgia-South Carolina game is already in my cross-hairs. So is Alabama-Penn State and Clemson-Auburn.

These are three big, early season battles. In fact, those first two are the same day, in Week 2. These will set the tone for the rest of the season.

It's a high-noon kick-off in Columbia and don't you know it's going to be a crazy atmosphere. Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray will be making his first real start. Coach Mike Bobo has been constantly reminding him how important it will be to protect the football. The translation on that: We can't win, when you throw interceptions.

Bobo will have a "run heavy" plan at South Carolina. Try to keep the pressure off the kid. And you know Ellis Johnson will have that Carolina defense focused on slowing down Washaun Ealey and Caleb King. They will want to get Murray in some obvious passing situations, so they can pressure him into mistakes.

Isn't that always the plan against a rookie QB?

There are a lot of things I like about Aaron. And one of them is the way he gets the ball to his top receivers. The ball goes to A.J. Green. If he's got tight coverage, Murray comes off him and goes to Kris Durham, or Orson Charles quickly.

He gets his playmakers the ball.

This game will have one of those NFL quality match-ups, with A.J. Green working on All-SEC DB Chris Culliver. NFL scouts will be watching.

Coach Steve Spurrier is probably walking the beach right now, pondering how to get after this new Georgia 3-4 defense. Todd Grantham vs. Steve Spurrier. Now this should be interesting. The Dawgs will have a match-up disadvantage they will have to overcome.

Spurrier has some long, tall weapons at receiver with the talented Alshon Jeffrey and Tori Gurley (both are 6-foot-5, 230). Grantham has short corners, with Brandon Boykin, Vance Cuff and Branden Smith (all under 6-foot).

Spurrier will try to exploit that.

Later that same night, Penn State will take the field in Tuscaloosa. Joe Paterno and Nick Saban match wits, in front of 101,000-plus and a national TV audience. Classic match-up.

This game will be a physical, old-school battle. The last time Coach Paterno showed up at Bryant-Denny Stadium, they left with a 9-0 win.

Penn State will have a new QB and will be determined to run senior back Evan Royster at the Tide. Kirby Smart is already thinking about this. Can we stop the run, against a powerful attack? Tide nose tackle Josh Chapman will match up against the top center in college football (Stefen Wisniewski).

This should be good.

Just checked my sources at Auburn and was told defensive coordinator Ted Roof is hoping the Colorado Rockies will sign Clemson QB Kyle Parker to a big deal, which requires him to give up football. If it goes down like that, Auburn will be facing rookie redshirt freshman QB Tajh Boyd, who will be making his first real start. Also, can hardly wait to see new Auburn QB Cam Newton (6-foot-7, 240 pounds) running that Gus Malzahn offense. This match-up comes in Week 3 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.